DEVELOPMENT
G20 2016
CONFRONTING
THE CRISIS
OF GLOBAL
GOVERNANCE
DR. ABI WILLIAMS
President of The Hague
Institute for Global Justice
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We are confronted today by multiple
crises that are complex in nature and
global in scope. Seemingly intractable
state fragility and violent extremism
threaten the stability of entire regions
and worldwide displacement is at
the highest level ever recorded. The
impact of climate change is already
apparent in rising sea levels and altered
landscapes, resulting in the loss of
habitats, lives and livelihoods. These
and other global challenges demand
comprehensive, global solutions that
are designed and implemented by
governance institutions and processes
that are inclusive, agile and responsive.
Delivering effective solutions to the
transnational challenges of the 21st
Century requires reforming important
elements of the system of global
governance established in the mid-
20th Century, and engaging new
stakeholders through dynamic, flexible
arrangements. It was this imperative
that led The Hague Institute for Global
Justice and the Stimson Center to
convene the Commission on Global
Security, Justice & Governance,
which was co-chaired by former U.S.
Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright
and former Foreign Minister of Nigeria,
Ibrahim Gambari. The analysis and
recommendations contained in its
final report, “Confronting the Crisis of
Global Governance,” aim to develop
new frameworks for collective action
in response to a range of threats to
global security and justice. Several
recommendations concern the G20
and its role in global governance.
The G20 is uniquely able to play
a pivotal role in enhancing the
effectiveness and legitimacy of
contemporary global governance –
its membership transcends significant
geopolitical divides, represents two-
thirds of the world’s population, and
accounts for approximately 80% of
Gross World Product. The efficiency
of its decision-making processes
is undoubtedly enhanced by the
relatively small number of actors
involved at the leadership level.
To leverage its strengths in support
of the global public good, however,